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President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attend a bilateral meeting at the Saudi Royal Court on May 13 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attend a bilateral meeting at the Saudi Royal Court on May 13 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

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Win McNamee/Getty Images

Analysis

Politics

Here are 5 takeaways from Trump's first major foreign trip to the Middle East

President Trump was greeted like royalty during his four-day trip to the Middle East, his first major foreign trip of this second term, where it was all about business deals and not moral leadership.
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, rescuers recover the bodies of passengers after a Russian drone struck a passenger bus at the village of Bilopillya in the Sumy region, Ukraine, Saturday, May 17, 2025.

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, rescuers recover the bodies of passengers after a Russian drone struck a passenger bus at the village of Bilopillya in the Sumy region, Ukraine, Saturday, May 17, 2025. AP/Ukrainian Emergency Service hide caption

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AP/Ukrainian Emergency Service

Europe

A Russian drone strike in northeastern Ukraine kills 9 people, officials say

The drone hit a bus evacuating civilians from a front-line area in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region Saturday, hours after Moscow and Kyiv had held their first direct peace talks in years.
Seinfeld shot on the Radford Studio center's backlot built to look like New York City. It was built in the 1990s to ensure the production wouldn't move to New York.

Seinfeld shot on the Radford Studio center's backlot built to look like New York City. It was built in the 1990s to ensure the production wouldn't move to New York. Eilish M. Nobes/Radford Studio Center hide caption

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Eilish M. Nobes/Radford Studio Center

Culture

Amid global competition for production business, Hollywood is hurting

Hollywood's plummeting film and TV production levels have studio executives and grassroots groups pushing for better incentives to keep business in California.

Hollywood is facing an 'existential moment' as production levels plummet

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Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces are considered to be two of this year's leading MVP candidates.

Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces are considered to be two of this year's leading MVP candidates. Ethan Miller/Getty Images hide caption

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Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Sports

As the WNBA season tips off, here are 4 of our biggest questions

Will a new-look Indiana Fever contend in Caitlin Clark's second year? Will A'ja Wilson win a record 4th MVP? And the biggest question of all: Can the league as a whole build on last season's success?

WNBA SEASON TIPS OFF

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WATCH

Carín León: Tiny Desk Concert

Accompanied by a 16-piece band, Carín León's commanding presence shows why he's one of the best in the Mexican Regional scene.
People participate in a protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court over President Trump's move to end birthright citizenship as the court hears arguments over the order in Washington, D.C., on Thursday.

People participate in a protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court over President Trump's move to end birthright citizenship as the court hears arguments over the order in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Law

The Supreme Court's justices appear to be divided in birthright citizenship arguments

The arguments focused on whether federal district court judges can rule against the administration on a nationwide basis.

Supreme Court weighs whether birthright citizenship can remain law in America

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Israeli singer Yuval Raphael is representing Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest. She performs "New Day Will Rise" during a dress rehearsal for the second semi-final in Basel on May 14.

Israeli singer Yuval Raphael is representing Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest. She performs "New Day Will Rise" during a dress rehearsal for the second semi-final in Basel on May 14. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

World

Yuval Raphael, a Hamas attack survivor, is representing Israel at Eurovision

The 24-year-old survived the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on the Nova festival, and will perform a pop ballad, "New Day Will Rise." Israel's Eurovision participation has sparked protest due to the Gaza war.
International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan attends a United Nations Security Council meeting on Sudan and South Sudan in January in New York City.

International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan attends a United Nations Security Council meeting on Sudan and South Sudan in January in New York City. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

World

ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan is on leave amid a sexual misconduct investigation

Facing allegations of sexual misconduct, Karim Khan has temporarily stepped aside as a U.N. investigation enters its final stage, the International Criminal Court announced Friday.
Relatives of victims hold a placard with photos of victims of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash in March 2019, prior to a hearing in Fort Worth, Texas, in January 2023.

Relatives of victims hold a placard with photos of victims of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash in March 2019, prior to a hearing in Fort Worth, Texas, in January 2023. Shelby Tauber/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Shelby Tauber/AFP via Getty Images

National

DOJ may drop case against Boeing over deadly 737 Max crashes, despite families' outrage

Boeing agreed last year to plead guilty to defrauding regulators after the crashes of two 737 Max jets, in 2018 and 2019, that killed 346 people. But a federal judge rejected that proposed plea deal.
Bill Chappell writes about the sense of bravery he feels while cycling.
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Josie Norton for NPR
Bill Chappell writes about the sense of bravery he feels while cycling.
Josie Norton for NPR

I'm Really Into

Just like life, riding my bike doesn't always make sense. But that's why I love it

Cycling is especially good for people with long-running knee problems or health issues. I've been able to do everything I've wanted to, but a clamor of what-ifs were often in the back of my mind.

Just like life, riding my bike doesn't always make sense. But that's why I love it

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Army soldiers patrol the U.S.-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas, in January, 2025.

US Army soldiers patrol the US-Mexico border at Eagle Pass, Texas, on January 24, 2025. US President Donald Trump ordered 1,500 more military personnel to the border with Mexico as part of a flurry of steps to tackle immigration, his spokeswoman said on January 22. Border security is a key priority for the president, who declared a national emergency at the US frontier with Mexico on his first day in office, and the additional personnel will bring the total number of active-duty troops deployed there to around 4,000. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images) Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

Immigration

Historical precedent: Courts wrestle with the White House's 'invasion' claim

Federal judges are looking back to the 18th century to define what constitutes an invasion, weighing a key legal argument for the Trump administration's use of a wartime deportation authority.
Dr. Timothy Koh works in the lab in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition at the University of Illinois Chicago, where he and his team study wound healing in diabetics. Researchers at universities around the the country, who rely on federal grants, are concerned about the future of their projects.

Dr. Timothy Koh works in the lab in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition at the University of Illinois Chicago, where he and his team study wound healing in diabetics. Researchers at universities around the the country, who rely on federal grants, are concerned about the future of their projects. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

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Scott Olson/Getty Images

Education

What losing billions in federal grants means for universities, and the nation

The Trump administration has so far frozen about $11 billion in research funding. University leaders say no other source can fill the void.

What happens when the federal government stops funding university research

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Residents of Marquette, a city in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, gathered outside Planned Parenthood to celebrate and thank staffers as they finished the last day of patient care, on April 23.

Residents of Marquette, a city in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, gathered outside Planned Parenthood to celebrate and thank staffers as they finished the last day of patient care, on April 23. Bobby Anttila hide caption

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Bobby Anttila

Public Health

Why so many clinics that provide abortion are closing, even where it's still legal

 Michigan Public

New financial pressures on clinics that provide abortion are forcing some to close their doors, even in states that protect the right to abortion.

New financial pressures forcing Planned Parenthood to close some clinics

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Children selling hibiscus in Jebel Aulia, a town where the last battles in Khartoum City took place.

Children selling hibiscus in Jebel Aulia, a town where the last battles in Khartoum City took place. Faiz Abubakr for NPR hide caption

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Faiz Abubakr for NPR

Goats and Soda

Bikes and bakeries are back: War-torn Khartoum struggles to rebuild

Government forces retook the capital city from rebel troops in April. Now comes the task of rebuilding what was once a bustling metropolis on the Nile.

After two years of civil war, Sudan's capital is a shell of its former self

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Flamingos are filter feeders that live off shrimp, algae and other nibbles in wetlands around the world.

Flamingos are filter feeders that live off shrimp, algae and other nibbles in wetlands around the world. Serhat Cetinkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images hide caption

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Serhat Cetinkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images

Science

Scientists have figured out why flamingos are such weird eaters

Flamingos look silly when they eat, but new research suggests they're actually being smart.

Scientists have figured out why flamingos are such weird eaters

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A Dashchund reclines on a miniature custom-made dog sun lounger beside the pool at Vienna's Village luxury dog hotel and daycare in Cape Town, South Africa. Despite widespread poverty, numerous chronic social issues and one of the world's highest murder rates, the city is home to a booming luxury pet hotel industry.

A Dashchund reclines on a miniature custom-made dog sun lounger beside the pool at Vienna's Village luxury dog hotel and daycare in Cape Town, South Africa. Despite widespread poverty, numerous chronic social issues and one of the world's highest murder rates, the city is home to a booming luxury pet hotel industry. Tommy Trenchard for NPR hide caption

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Tommy Trenchard for NPR

Goats and Soda

Where luxury dog hotels are all the rage, but half the humans live in poverty

High-end accommodations for pooches are thriving in one of the world's most unequal countries. They have their defenders and their critics. Who's barking up the right tree?
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